State Route 140

California 140 east at the interchange (Exit 418) with Interstate 5 west of Gustine. From here, California 140 follows a two-lane bridge over Interstate 5, passes by a few gas stations, then proceeds toward Gustine. Almost immediately, California 140 leaves Stanislaus County and enters Merced County.

04/03/05

The Route 140/5 separation structure carries California 140 over Interstate 5/Westside Freeway.

04/03/05

A couple of gas stations straddle California 140 as the highway begins its journey east to Gustine. The next left connects to Interstate 5 north to San Francisco, Stockton, and Sacramento.

04/03/05

Old style bridge rail lines the Delta Mendota Canal crossing. In addition to the massive state water project (California Aqueduct), other irrigation districts extend across the Central Valley to bring needed water to fertile lands. The Delta Mendota Canal (built in 1951) runs 117 miles from the California Delta south to near Mendota; it was constructed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and is operated by the Delta-Mendota Water Authority in Fresno County. This canal interconnects with the California Aqueduct system and generally parallels it.

04/03/05

Orchards and agricultural fields line both sides of California 140 as the state highway approaches Gustine.

04/03/05

California 140 will make a left turn from Sullivan Road onto California 33/Jensen Road north. Gustine sits on California 33-140; the routes divide north of downtown Gustine.

04/03/05

Turn left here to follow California 33 north and California 140 east to Gustine; turn right to follow California 33 south to Santa Nella and Interstate 5 near the O'Neill Forebay.

04/03/05

Turning north, California 33 and California 140 share Jensen Road as they enter the city of Gustine, the "Festival Hub of the Valley." Gustine was incorporated in 1915, is home to 4,698 people as of the 2000 Census, and consists of 1.2 square miles. Agriculture and dairy farms dominate the economy, even as encroachment from suburban areas to the north continues to move toward Gustine. The population of Gustine includes a significant Portugese-American population.

04/03/05

Northbound California 33 and eastbound California 140 cross over the Main Canal on this bridge. Note that California 140 is the through route, since the bridge number corresponds to State Route 140.

04/03/05

As California 33 and California 140 turn east around Harry Schmidt Park, the road changes from Jensen Road to South Avenue.

04/03/05

Residences and houses line both sides of California 33-140. The state route follows South Avenue, which changes into 6th Avenue after passing 6th Street.

04/03/05

Northbound California 33 and eastbound California 140 turn from 6th Avenue east onto 4th Street north. The control cities of Newman and Tracy are via California 33, while the control city of Merced is for California 140.

04/03/05

About six blocks north of the previous spot, we approach the intersection of Fourth Street and First Avenue west/North Avenue east, which is where the routes divide. Northbound California 33 continues along Fourth Street toward Newman, while California 140 turns east onto North Avenue.

04/03/05

After leaving California 33/Fourth Street, eastbound California 140 crosses a railroad.

04/03/05

The next major intersection along eastbound California 140 is with Hunt Road north and East Avenue south.

04/03/05

A California 140 east reassurance shield is posted shortly thereafter; the state highway starts to leave the city of Gustine.

04/03/05

This mileage sign along California 140 east provides the distance to Merced (30 miles), Mariposa (66 miles), and Yosemite National Park (110 miles). California 140 ends at the west entrance to the national park as it follows the Merced River toward Yosemite Valley.

04/03/05

California 140 passes by the Gustine Airport as it leaves the urban area and prepares to enter the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.

04/03/05

The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge features wetlands and a major stop for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. California 140 will pass through the scenic and undeveloped wetlands for the next several miles.

04/03/05

Passing through the Kesterson Unit of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge California 140 crosses several waterways and wetlands, using bridges such as these.

04/03/05

California 140 leaves the national wildlife refuge after crossing the San Joaquin River. The next major intersection is with Keaton Road north to Merced County J-18 (Westside Boulevard).

04/03/05

Eastbound California 140 approaches California 165 (Lander Avenue) near the town of Stevinson. Two stop ahead signs warn of the pending intersection.

04/03/05

Use California 165 north to Stevinson (one mile) and Turlock (13 miles). To the south, California 165 connects with California 33-152 in Los Banos (20 miles) and eventually with Interstate 5 at Exit 391 near the Dos Amigos Pumping Station and Visitors Center along the California Aqueduct.

04/03/05

California 165 north also serves Hagaman Park (near the junction with Merced County J-18 (Westside Boulevard) near the Merced River crossing). California 165 also passes through San Luis National Wildlife Refuge as it passes through the San Joaquin River wetlands.

04/03/05

A California 140 reassurance shield is posted after the California 165 intersection.

04/03/05

California 140 east ahead of Weir Avenue east of Stevinson.

04/03/05

California 140 east after Weir Avenue.

04/03/05

For the remaining distance east to Merced, California 140 will generally follow Bear Creek. The southern side of the highway may have less developed lands (including wetlands), while the north side has more agricultural development. Here, California 140 approaches Washington Boulevard.

04/03/05

Several miles east (after passing the Joseph Gallo Dairy and Cheese Plant), California 140 approaches Bert Crane Road.

04/03/05

About a mile east of Bert Crane Road, eastbound California 140 approaches Applegate Road north to California 99 at Atwater. It's hard to believe, but only three miles separate California 99 and California 140 at this point, even though it's still about seven miles east to Merced.

04/03/05

About a mile east of Applegate Road, eastbound California 140 (McSwain Road) approaches Buhach Road.

04/03/05

Soon thereafter, California 140 passes over Bear Creek.

04/03/05

Prior to entering the city of Merced, California 140 approaches Franklin Road north to California 99 at Exit 191.

04/03/05

Eastbound California 140 enters the city of Merced, the seat of Merced County. Like many cities in the Central Valley, Merced has seen substantial growth through the 1990s and 2000s. The University of California Merced opened its doors in September 2005 to new students, and the town is the main "Gateway to Yosemite" from the Central Valley. Merced was incorporated in 1889 and is home to 63,893 people as of the 2000 Census.

04/03/05

California 140 immediately passes through residential before finding motorist services associated with the California 99 freeway. Here, California 140 east meets X Street; the California 99 freeway is visible in the distance.

04/03/05

At California 99, eastbound California 140 turns southeast onto 13th Street, a frontage road that parallels the freeway. The frontage road leads California 140 southeast onto California 99 south.

04/03/05

After passing by R Street, eastbound California 140 merges onto California 99 south. The two state routes merge only briefly; the second exit on California 99 south allows California 140 to depart the freeway.

04/03/05

After separating from California 99 and California 59 near downtown Merced, westbound California 140 proceeds west along McSwain Road en route to Stevinson and Gustine.

03/15/15

An end shield for SR 140 precedes the diamond interchange with Interstate 5. Sullivan Road extends west from the exchange.

04/03/05

Interstate 5 north heads toward San Francisco, Stockton, and Sacramento while the freeway south travels to Los Angeles.

04/03/05